Miss Bala is a Mexican thriller that never stops being dramatic

DVD review: Miss Bala does well to make this story about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, into a dramatic piece of cinematography as the film’s beauty queen dodges moment of violence any stuntman would be proud of.

Stephanie Sigman finds her character getting in deep trouble in the world of drug-crazed gangsters

Mexican beauty queen contestant Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman) falls in with some really bad dudes in this claustrophobic crime drama from writer/director Gerardo Naranjo. Lauraâs attempts to go to the proper authorities confirm there are no proper authoritiesÂ in Mexicoâs bloody drugs war and sheâs soon deeper in hock to creepy cartel boss Lino (Noe Hernandez).

Lino can help crown his new plaything Miss Bala but Laura has no time to ponder the moral compromise â she is too busy being bundled in and out of stolen cars and stumbling into epic shoot-outs.

As an exercise in point-of-view film-making, this breakneck thriller is daring and occasionally baffling, never leaving Lauraâs shoulder to offer any context for the Kafka-esque madness dragging her under. Itâs effective, though â Sigman spends most of the time looking dazed and confused, and by the end youâll know how she feels.